Wearing-apparel strap construction



p 1950 J. BAYON 2,521,327

WEARING APPAREL STRAP CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 11, 1947 Fig.7 Fig.3

AAAAAAAL v v vv INVENTOR Jase 1i Ba on I Patented Sept. 5, 1950 f jfi UN TE STATES PATENT ot-rice 2 Application September 11, 1947, Serial No. 773,452

. p In France January 10, 1947 7' Claims.

. It is known to make braces with straps or branches which are tubular, that is to say constitutedbya single piece of fabric folded twice inaflat shape and the two edges of which are joined in the middle of the underside, where they are united by a zigzag seam or in another manher. {This mode of manufacture has the advantege'ef avoiding the ravel'ing out of the edges, but it has the drawback that the straps or branches thus formed twist and roll up, particularly. at the shoulders of the wearer, so that they bear at these points only on a small width, as a string, causing lack of comfort and even uneasi ness to the wearer. v

An'object of the present'invention is to provide a new and improved construction for straps or branches or bands or the like for use in braces, suspendera garters, belts and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended-claims and accompanying drawings. e

' Generally speaking, thepresent invention contemplatesa new and improved construction for a. composite strap or band or the like (intended 'for' use in braces, suspenders, garters, belts and similar supporters for wearing-apparel or the like) 'wherein the strap or band is constructed of two flexible elongated strips of fabric or other appropriate material, each strip having a central'longitudinally-extending fold-line to form upper and lower panels; the free edges of the panels of the two strips being disposed in abutting relationship and being interconnected by stitching or other suitable fastening means passingjt'hi'o'ugh all of said panels and providing a central stiffening 'zone in the composite assembled structure. e 7

In one embodiment of the present invention (shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4) the four free edges are cut-edges which are kept from unraveling by the central stitching or seam-line. Since the outer edges of the composite strap are formed by the longitudinal fold-lines, there is no tendency to unravel at said outer edges.

Due to the central reinforcing stitching or seam-line, the composite strap or band of the present invention does not have any appreciable tendency toward twisting.

In a modified embodiment of the present invention (shown in Figure 5), each strap is provided with three longitudinally-extending foldlines to form a four-ply structure in which the free edgesare enclosed and are in juxtaposition to the central fold-line; the two straps being united to each other along the other two foldlines of each strap (instead of along their free edges).

In this last-mentioned modified embodiment, it is possible, especially when the strips are constructed of light-weight fabric, to reinforce the strips and to'render them somewhat softer and more flexible by positioning within the folded-in portions of each strip, either a pair of single-ply insert strips (as shown in Figure 6) or'a longitudinally-folded two-ply insert strip fitting across thefree edges of the outer strip (as shown in Figure 7).

The accompanying drawing shows by way of example, at an enlarged scale, four embodiments of an article manufactured according to the present method. 7

"' Fig. 1 is a front view of a part of a brace branch, during'the course of its manufacture.

Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof, in'a first embodiment.

Figs. 3, and 4 are similar views of the finished article.

Fig; 5 is a cross section of the finished article, according to a modification."

Fig. 6 isa cross section of the same article, with an internal lining.

Fig. 7 is a crosssection showing a modification in thedisposition of the internal lining.

- 'On the drawing, I and 2 are the two-strips which are made, forexample, of cloth.

In the first embodiment, each strip is folded together-longitudinally, whereafter the two strips are placed side byside (Figs. 1 and 2) so that the cut edges la, la, 2a, 2a are turned to the interior and that the folded edges lb, lb are placed at the exterior. It is then suflicient'to unite the four out edges which are adjacent to each other by a; zigzag seam 3;'and the article is finished, as shown by Figs.3 and-4.

In the modification shown by Fig. 5, use is made, for each element which shall have when finished the same width as before, of a strip having the double width, and the upper and lower parts are folded back towards the interior, so that each element then comprises four superimposed layers, and the seam 3 unites the four folded edges lc, lo, 20, 20 which are superimposed two by two and adjacent.

In this embodiment, and when the used fabric or material is light, it may be lined internally, either by four separate strips 4 of flannel or other appropriate material, each of which is placed in an inner fold of each element (Fig. 6), or by two strips 5 folded at 5a and placed astride over the cut edges of the strips I and '2.

It will be noticed that the present method 3 makes it possible to constitute the articles in question by two strips of different color and to obtain thereby, additionally, an original aspect of the article.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described and shown, and that .it will .be possible to employ :any other appropriate means for unitin the two elements constituting the article.

On the other hand, the invention covers also thearticles obtained by the present method.

I claim:

1. A band for use in a garment supporter tor the like comprising two elongated strips of flexible material each having a generally oentraldon gitudinal fold-line providing top and bottom free edges, said stitching passing through the top, andibottompanels .of eachof said strips and providing a.v central stiffenin .zone extending longitudinally along said. bandintermediate said fold-lines.

i3. ,A band-for use in. a garment-supporter or the like comprising twov elongatedstrips of, flex? ible material; each having; generally parallel cut edges and a generally central longitudinal .Ifoldline, providing topsandi bottom. panels, the cut edges of the panels being disposed in generally abutting relationship, and-fastening means interconnecting the fouigabutting out edgespf said panels,therebypreventing unraveling of thecut edges and providing a generally.central...stiffeningzone extending longitudinally along. said band.

4.-. A.-b3nd .fOIZ .use in, a garmentsupporter-or the like comprisingiwoelongated strips ,of flexible .materialeach having generally parallel cut edges and. a generally central longitudinal. foldline. providing top and bottom panels, the cut edges, of. the. panelsbeing disposed. in;-generally abutting relationship, .and a :row of-lzi zag stitching interconnecting theabutting cut. edges, said stitching passing. alternately through the top 5 and. bottomspanels. .of eachstri and. serving to prevent unraveling of the cut-edgesas well as to provide a central stiffening zone extending longitudinally along said band generally intermediate said fold-lines.

5. A band for use in a garment supporter or the like comprising two elongated strips of flexible material each having a generally central longitudinal fold-line providing, top and. bottom panels, the free edges of, said top and. bottom panels being turned inward to provide a gener- ;ally four-ply construction, the inturned free edges of said two strips being disposed in generally-abutting relationship, and a row of stitching passing through all of the four plies of each strip generally adjacent said inturned free edges, said stitching senvingzto interconnect said strips and also-providing a generally central stifiening zone extending intermediate said fold-lines.

6. A band for use in a garment supporter or the like comprising twoelongated strips of flexible material each having a generally; centralxlongi tudinal fold-line proyidingrtopand'bottom panels, the freeedges of said "top .andbott'om" panels being turned .inwardto provide av generallyrfourpjly construction; a'lin'ing-strip underlying the top andbotto-mpanels'of'each of said first-mentioned strips; and a row ofstitching interconnecting the abutting 'free edges. of said panels and providin a generally centralstilfening zone extending 'intermediate saidfo'ld lines.

' 7: A'band,foruse'inagarmentsupporter'orthe like comprising-two elongated strips of flexible material" each having a generally-central longitudinal fold-line providing top-andbo-ttom panels, the free edges Of'SfiidTtOD and bottom panels being turned inwardfto provide a generally-mun plyconstruction, a lining strip disposed" within each of saidifirst-mentioned' strips; each liningstrip havin a generally central-fold=line disposed in juxtapositiontothe fold-line ofthe outer strip andproviding top' andbottom'panels underlying the top and bottom panels of the outerstrip, and a-row-of"sti.tching interconnecting-thence .edges of said" :firstementibned strips and providing a stiffening -zone extending generally centrally along said band:

J OSEPH BAYON;

REFERENCES GIT-ED- 'l'ihe following references .areof. record .;in the 

